FORM OF AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION
FORM OF AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION (the “Agreement”) is made as of this 26th day of September, 2013, by and between The Huntington Funds, a Delaware statutory trust, with its principal place of business at 0000 X. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 (the “Trust”), with respect to its Huntington Dividend Capture Fund (the “Acquiring Fund”), and the Trust, with respect to its Huntington Income Equity Fund (the “Selling Fund”).
The reorganization (the “Reorganization”) will consist of (i) the transfer of all of the assets of the Selling Fund in exchange solely for shares of beneficial interest, without par value per share, of the Acquiring Fund (the “Acquiring Fund Shares”); (ii) the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of all of the liabilities of the Selling Fund; and (iii) the distribution, after the Closing Date hereinafter referred to, of the Acquiring Fund Shares to the shareholders of the Selling Fund in liquidation of the Selling Fund as provided herein, all upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth in this Agreement.
WHEREAS, the Selling Fund and the Acquiring Fund are each a separate investment series of an open-end, registered investment company of the management type and the Selling Fund owns securities that generally are assets of the character in which the Acquiring Fund is permitted to invest;
WHEREAS, the Selling Fund and the Acquiring Fund are authorized to issue their shares of beneficial interest;
WHEREAS, the Trustees of the Trust have determined that the transactions contemplated herein will be in the best interests of the Acquiring Fund and its shareholders;
WHEREAS, the Trustees of the Trust have determined that the Selling Fund should exchange all of its assets and liabilities for Acquiring Fund Shares and that the interests of the existing shareholders of the Selling Fund will not be diluted as a result of the transactions contemplated herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
TRANSFER OF ASSETS OF THE SELLING FUND IN EXCHANGE FOR THE
ACQUIRING FUND SHARES AND ASSUMPTION OF SELLING FUND
LIABILITIES AND LIQUIDATION OF THE SELLING FUND
1.1 THE EXCHANGE. Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth and on the basis of the representations and warranties contained herein, the Selling Fund agrees to transfer all of the Selling Fund’s assets as set forth in paragraph 1.2 to the Acquiring Fund. The Acquiring Fund agrees in exchange for the Selling Fund’s assets (i) to deliver to the Selling Fund
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the number of Acquiring Fund Shares, including fractional Acquiring Fund Shares, computed in the manner and as of the time and date set forth in paragraphs 2.2 and 2.3; and (ii) to assume all of the liabilities of the Selling Fund, as set forth in paragraph 1.3. Such transactions shall take place on the Closing Date provided for in paragraph 3.1.
1.2 ASSETS TO BE ACQUIRED. The assets of the Selling Fund to be acquired by the Acquiring Fund shall consist of all property, including, without limitation, all cash, securities, commodities, interests in futures and dividends or interest receivables, that is owned by the Selling Fund and any deferred or prepaid expenses shown as an asset on the books of the Selling Fund on the Closing Date.
The Selling Fund has provided the Acquiring Fund with its most recent unaudited financial statements, which contain a list of all of the Selling Fund’s assets as of the date thereof. The Selling Fund hereby represents that as of the date of the execution of this Agreement there have been no changes in its financial position as reflected in said financial statements other than those occurring in the ordinary course of its business in connection with the purchase and sale of securities and the payment of its normal operating expenses. The Selling Fund reserves the right to sell any of such securities, but will not, without the prior written approval of the Acquiring Fund, acquire any additional securities other than securities of the type in which the Acquiring Fund is permitted to invest.
The Acquiring Fund will, within a reasonable time prior to the Closing Date, furnish the Selling Fund with a list of the securities, if any, on the Selling Fund’s list referred to in the second sentence of this paragraph that do not conform to the Acquiring Fund’s investment objectives, policies, and restrictions. The Selling Fund will, within a reasonable period of time (not less than 30 days) prior to the Closing Date, furnish the Acquiring Fund with a list of its portfolio securities and other investments. In the event that the Selling Fund holds any investments that the Acquiring Fund may not hold, the Selling Fund, if requested by the Acquiring Fund, will dispose of such securities prior to the Closing Date. In addition, if it is determined that the Selling Fund and the Acquiring Fund portfolios, when aggregated, would contain investments exceeding certain percentage limitations imposed upon the Acquiring Fund with respect to such investments, the Selling Fund if requested by the Acquiring Fund will dispose of a sufficient amount of such investments as may be necessary to avoid violating such limitations as of the Closing Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein will require the Selling Fund to dispose of any investments or securities if, in the reasonable judgment of the Selling Fund, such disposition would violate the Selling Fund’s fiduciary duty to its shareholders.
1.3 LIABILITIES TO BE ASSUMED. The Selling Fund will endeavor to discharge all of its known liabilities and obligations prior to the Closing Date. The Acquiring Fund shall assume all of the Selling Fund’s liabilities and obligations of any kind whatsoever, whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise in existence on the Closing Date.
1.4 LIQUIDATION AND DISTRIBUTION. On or as soon after the Closing Date as is conveniently practicable (the “Liquidation Date”), (a) the Selling Fund will liquidate and distribute pro rata to the Selling Fund’s shareholders of record, determined as of the close of business on the Valuation Date (the “Selling Fund Shareholders”), the Acquiring Fund Shares
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received by the Selling Fund pursuant to paragraph 1.1; and (b) the Selling Fund will thereupon proceed to terminate as set forth in paragraph 1.8 below. Such liquidation and distribution will be accomplished by the transfer of the Acquiring Fund Shares then credited to the account of the Selling Fund on the books of the Acquiring Fund to open accounts on the share records of the Acquiring Fund in the names of the Selling Fund Shareholders and representing the respective pro rata number of the Acquiring Fund Shares due such shareholders. All issued and outstanding shares of the Selling Fund will simultaneously be canceled on the books of the Selling Fund. The Acquiring Fund shall not issue certificates representing the Acquiring Fund Shares in connection with such exchange.
1.5 OWNERSHIP OF SHARES. Ownership of Acquiring Fund Shares will be shown on the books of the Acquiring Fund’s transfer agent. Shares of the Acquiring Fund will be issued in the manner described in the Prospectus/Information Statement which has been distributed to shareholders of the Selling Fund as described in paragraph 4.1(o).
1.6 TRANSFER TAXES. Any transfer taxes payable upon issuance of the Acquiring Fund Shares in a name other than the registered holder of the Selling Fund shares on the books of the Selling Fund as of that time shall, as a condition of such issuance and transfer, be paid by the person to whom such Acquiring Fund Shares are to be issued and transferred.
1.7 REPORTING RESPONSIBILITY. Any reporting responsibility of the Selling Fund is and shall remain the responsibility of the Selling Fund up to and including the Closing Date and such later date on which the Selling Fund is terminated.
1.8 TERMINATION. The Trust shall take all necessary and appropriate steps under applicable law to terminate the Selling Fund promptly following the Closing Date and the making of all distributions pursuant to paragraph 1.4.
ARTICLE II
VALUATION
2.1 VALUATION OF ASSETS. The value of the Selling Fund’s assets to be acquired by the Acquiring Fund hereunder shall be the value of such assets computed as of the close of business on the New York Stock Exchange on the business day next preceding the Closing Date (such time and date being hereinafter called the “Valuation Date”), using the valuation procedures set forth in the Trust’s Declaration of Trust and the Selling Fund’s then current prospectus and statement of additional information or such other valuation procedures as shall be mutually agreed upon by the parties.
2.2 VALUATION OF SHARES. The net asset value per share of the Acquiring Fund Shares shall be the net asset value per share computed as of the close of business on the New York Stock Exchange on the Valuation Date, using the valuation procedures set forth in the Trust’s Declaration of Trust and the Acquiring Fund’s then current prospectus and statement of additional information.
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2.3 SHARES TO BE ISSUED. The number of full and fractional Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued in exchange for the Selling Fund’s assets shall be determined by multiplying the outstanding shares of the Selling Fund by the ratio computed by dividing the net asset value per share of the Selling Fund by the net asset value per share of the Acquiring Fund on the Valuation Date, determined in accordance with paragraph 2.2.
2.4 DETERMINATION OF VALUE. All computations of value shall be made by Huntington Asset Services, Inc., the Acquiring Fund’s and the Selling Fund’s transfer agent, in accordance with its regular practice in pricing the shares and assets of the Acquiring Fund and the Selling Fund.
ARTICLE III
CLOSING AND CLOSING DATE
3.1 CLOSING DATE. The closing of the Reorganization (the “Closing”) shall take place on or about December 13, 2013 or such other date as the parties may agree to in writing (the “Closing Date”). All acts taking place at the Closing shall be deemed to take place simultaneously immediately prior to the opening of business on the Closing Date unless otherwise provided. The Closing shall be held as of 8:00 a.m. EST at the offices of the Trust, or at such other time and/or place as the parties may agree.
3.2 EFFECT OF SUSPENSION IN TRADING. In the event that on the Valuation Date (a) the New York Stock Exchange or another primary trading market for portfolio securities of the Acquiring Fund or the Selling Fund shall be closed to trading or trading thereon shall be restricted; or (b) trading or the reporting of trading on said Exchange or elsewhere shall be disrupted so that accurate appraisal of the value of the net assets of the Acquiring Fund or the Selling Fund is impracticable, the Valuation Date (and the Closing Date) shall be postponed until the first business day after the day when trading shall have been fully resumed and reporting shall have been restored.
3.3 TRANSFER AGENT’S CERTIFICATE. The Selling Fund shall cause its transfer agent to deliver at the Closing a certificate of an authorized officer stating that its records contain the names and addresses of the Selling Fund Shareholders and the number and percentage ownership of outstanding shares owned by each such shareholder immediately prior to the Closing. The Acquiring Fund shall issue and deliver, or cause its transfer agent, to issue and deliver, to the Secretary of the Trust a confirmation evidencing the Acquiring Fund Shares to be credited on the Closing Date or provide evidence satisfactory to the Selling Fund that such Acquiring Fund Shares have been credited to the Selling Fund’s account on the books of the Acquiring Fund. At the Closing, each party shall deliver to the other such bills of sale, checks, assignments, share certificates, if any, receipts and other documents as such other party or its counsel may reasonably request.
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ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
4.1 REPRESENTATIONS OF THE SELLING FUND. The Selling Fund represents and warrants to the Acquiring Fund as follows:
| (a) | The Selling Fund is a separate investment series of the Trust, a statutory trust duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of Delaware. |
| (b) | The Selling Fund is a separate investment series of the Trust, which is registered as an investment company classified as a management company of the open-end type, and its registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), is in full force and effect. |
| (c) | The current prospectus and statement of additional information of the Selling Fund conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and do not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. |
| (d) | The Selling Fund is not, and the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement will not result, in violation of any provision of the Trust’s Declaration of Trust or By-Laws or of any material agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease, or other undertaking to which the Selling Fund is a party or by which it is bound. |
| (e) | The Selling Fund has no material contracts or other commitments (other than this Agreement) that will be terminated with liability to it prior to the Closing Date, except for liabilities, if any, to be discharged as provided in paragraph 1.3 hereof. |
| (f) | Except as otherwise disclosed in writing to and accepted by the Acquiring Fund, no litigation, administrative proceeding, or investigation of or before any court or governmental body is presently pending or to its knowledge threatened against the Selling Fund or any of its properties or assets, which, if adversely determined, would materially and adversely affect its financial condition, the conduct of its business, or the ability of the Selling Fund to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Selling Fund knows of no facts that might form the basis for the institution of such proceedings and is not a party to or subject to the provisions of any order, |
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| decree, or judgment of any court or governmental body that materially and adversely affects its business or its ability to consummate the transactions herein contemplated. |
| (g) | The audited financial statements of the Selling Fund at December 31, 2012 are in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied, and such statements (copies of which have been furnished to the Acquiring Fund) fairly reflect the financial condition of the Selling Fund as of such date, and there are no known contingent liabilities of the Selling Fund as of such date not disclosed therein. |
| (h) | Since December 31, 2012, there has not been any material adverse change in the Selling Fund’s financial condition, assets, liabilities, or business other than changes occurring in the ordinary course of business, or any incurrence by the Selling Fund of indebtedness maturing more than one year from the date such indebtedness was incurred, except as otherwise disclosed to and accepted by the Acquiring Fund. For the purposes of this subparagraph (h), a decline in the net asset value of the Selling Fund shall not constitute a material adverse change. |
| (i) | At the Closing Date, all federal and other tax returns and reports of the Selling Fund required by law to have been filed by such date shall have been filed, and all federal and other taxes shown due on said returns and reports shall have been paid, or provision shall have been made for the payment thereof. To the best of the Selling Fund’s knowledge, no such return is currently under audit, and no assessment has been asserted with respect to such returns. |
| (j) | For each fiscal year of its operation, the Selling Fund has met the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code for qualification and treatment as a regulated investment company and has distributed in each such year all net investment income and realized capital gains. |
| (k) | All issued and outstanding shares of the Selling Fund are, and at the Closing Date will be, duly and validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable by the Selling Fund. All of the issued and outstanding shares of the Selling Fund will, at the time of the Closing Date, be held by the persons and in the amounts set forth in the records of the transfer agent as provided in paragraph 3.3. The Selling Fund does not have outstanding any options, warrants, or other rights to subscribe for or purchase any of the Selling Fund shares, nor is there outstanding any security convertible into any of the Selling Fund shares. |
| (l) | At the Closing Date, the Selling Fund will have good and marketable title to the Selling Fund’s assets to be transferred to the Acquiring Fund pursuant to paragraph 1.2 and full right, power, and authority to sell, assign, transfer, and deliver such assets hereunder, and, upon delivery and payment for such assets, |
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| the Acquiring Fund will acquire good and marketable title thereto, subject to no restrictions on the full transfer thereof, including such restrictions as might arise under the 1933 Act, other than as disclosed to the Acquiring Fund and accepted by the Acquiring Fund. |
| (m) | The execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Selling Fund and, subject to approval by the Selling Fund’s shareholders, this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Selling Fund, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles. |
| (n) | The information furnished by the Selling Fund for use in no-action letters, applications for orders, registration statements, proxy materials, and other documents that may be necessary in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby is accurate and complete in all material respects and complies in all material respects with federal securities and other laws and regulations thereunder applicable thereto. |
| (o) | The Selling Fund has provided the Acquiring Fund with information reasonably necessary for the preparation of a Prospectus/Information Statement, in compliance with the 1933 Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”) and the 1940 Act. The Prospectus/Information Statement (other than information therein that relates to the Acquiring Fund and any other fund described therein other than the Selling Fund) does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading. |
4.2 REPRESENTATIONS OF THE ACQUIRING FUND. The Acquiring Fund represents and warrants to the Selling Fund as follows:
| (a) | The Acquiring Fund is a separate investment series of the Trust. |
| (b) | The Acquiring Fund is a separate investment series of the Trust, which is registered as an investment company classified as a management company of the open-end type, and its registration with the Commission as an investment company under the 1940 Act is in full force and effect. |
| (c) | The prospectus and statement of additional information, as of the date of the Prospectus/Information Statement, of the Acquiring Fund will conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. |
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| (d) | The Acquiring Fund is not, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not result, in violation of the Trust’s Declaration of Trust or By-Laws or of any material agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease, or other undertaking to which the Acquiring Fund is a party or by which it is bound. |
| (e) | Except as otherwise disclosed in writing to the Selling Fund and accepted by the Selling Fund, no litigation, administrative proceeding or investigation of or before any court or governmental body is presently pending or to its knowledge threatened against the Acquiring Fund or any of its properties or assets, which, if adversely determined, would materially and adversely affect its financial condition and the conduct of its business or the ability of the Acquiring Fund to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Acquiring Fund knows of no facts that might form the basis for the institution of such proceedings and is not a party to or subject to the provisions of any order, decree, or judgment of any court or governmental body that materially and adversely affects its business or its ability to consummate the transactions contemplated herein. |
| (f) | The audited financial statements of the Acquiring Fund at December 31, 2012 are in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied, and such statements (copies of which have been furnished to the Selling Fund) fairly reflect the financial condition of the Acquiring Fund as of such date, and there are no known contingent liabilities of the Acquiring Fund as of such date not disclosed therein. |
| (g) | Since December 31, 2012, there has not been any material adverse change in the Acquiring Fund’s financial condition, assets, liabilities, or business other than changes occurring in the ordinary course of business, or any incurrence by the Acquiring Fund of indebtedness maturing more than one year from the date such indebtedness was incurred, except as otherwise disclosed to and accepted by the Selling Fund. For the purposes of this subparagraph (g), a decline in the net asset value of the Acquiring Fund shall not constitute a material adverse change. |
| (h) | At the Closing Date, all federal and other tax returns and reports of the Acquiring Fund required by law then to be filed by such date shall have been filed, and all federal and other taxes shown due on said returns and reports shall have been paid or provision shall have been made for the payment thereof. To the best of the Acquiring Fund’s knowledge, no such return is currently under audit, and no assessment has been asserted with respect to such returns. |
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| (i) | For each fiscal year of its operation, the Selling Fund has met the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code for qualification and treatment as a regulated investment company and has distributed in each such year all net investment income and realized capital gains. |
| (j) | All issued and outstanding Acquiring Fund Shares are, and at the Closing Date will be, duly and validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable. The Acquiring Fund does not have outstanding any options, warrants, or other rights to subscribe for or purchase any Acquiring Fund Shares, nor is there outstanding any security convertible into any Acquiring Fund Shares. |
| (k) | The execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Acquiring Fund, and this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Acquiring Fund enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles. |
| (l) | The Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued and delivered to the Selling Fund, for the account of the Selling Fund Shareholders, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement will, at the Closing Date, have been duly authorized and, when so issued and delivered, will be duly and validly issued Acquiring Fund Shares, and will be fully paid and non-assessable. |
| (m) | The information furnished by the Acquiring Fund for use in no-action letters, applications for orders, registration statements, proxy materials, and other documents that may be necessary in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby is accurate and complete in all material respects and complies in all material respects with federal securities and other laws and regulations applicable thereto. |
| (n) | The Prospectus/Information Statement (only insofar as it relates to the Acquiring Fund) does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading. |
| (o) | The Acquiring Fund agrees to use all reasonable efforts to obtain the approvals and authorizations required by the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, and such of the state Blue Sky or securities laws as it may deem appropriate in order to continue its operations after the Closing Date. |
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ARTICLE V
COVENANTS OF THE ACQUIRING FUND AND THE SELLING FUND
5.1 OPERATION IN ORDINARY COURSE. The Acquiring Fund and the Selling Fund each will operate its business in the ordinary course between the date hereof and the Closing Date, it being understood that such ordinary course of business will include customary dividends and distributions.
5.2 INVESTMENT REPRESENTATION. The Selling Fund covenants that the Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued hereunder are not being acquired for the purpose of making any distribution thereof other than in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
5.3 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. The Selling Fund will assist the Acquiring Fund in obtaining such information as the Acquiring Fund reasonably requests concerning the beneficial ownership of the Selling Fund shares.
5.4 FURTHER ACTION. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Acquiring Fund and the Selling Fund will each take, or cause to be taken, all action, and do or cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including any actions required to be taken after the Closing Date.
ARTICLE VI
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE SELLING FUND
The obligations of the Selling Fund to consummate the transactions provided for herein shall be subject, at its election, to the performance by the Acquiring Fund of all the obligations to be performed by it hereunder on or before the Closing Date, and, in addition thereto, the following further conditions:
6.1 All representations and warranties of the Acquiring Fund contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date, and the Acquiring Fund shall have delivered to the Selling Fund a certificate executed in its name by the Trust’s President or Vice President, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Selling Fund and dated as of the Closing Date, to such effect and as to such other matters as the Selling Fund shall reasonably request.
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6.2 With respect to the Selling Fund, the Trust shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion from Xxxxxxxx & Worcester LLP, counsel to the Trust and the Acquiring Fund, dated as of the Closing Date, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Selling Fund, covering the following points:
| (a) | The Acquiring Fund is a separate investment series of a business trust duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has the trust power to own all of its properties and assets and, to the knowledge of such counsel, to carry on its business as presently conducted. |
| (b) | The Acquiring Fund is a separate series of a Delaware statutory trust registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, and, to such counsel’s knowledge, such registration with the Commission as an investment company under the 1940 Act is in full force and effect. |
| (c) | This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed, and delivered by the Acquiring Fund and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Selling Fund, is a valid and binding obligation of the Acquiring Fund enforceable against the Acquiring Fund in accordance with its terms, subject as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general equity principles. |
| (d) | Assuming that a consideration therefor not less than the net asset value thereof has been paid, the Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued and delivered to the Selling Fund on behalf of the Selling Fund Shareholders as provided by this Agreement are duly authorized and upon such delivery will be legally issued and outstanding and fully paid and non-assessable, and no shareholder of the Acquiring Fund has any statutory preemptive rights in respect thereof. |
| (e) | The Registration Statement, to the knowledge of such counsel, has been declared effective by the Commission and no stop order under the 1933 Act pertaining thereto has been issued; and to the knowledge of such counsel, no consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental authority of the United States or the State of Delaware is required for consummation by the Acquiring Fund of the transactions contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act, and as may be required under state securities laws. |
| (f) | The execution and delivery of this Agreement did not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, result in a violation of the Trust’s Declaration of Trust or By-Laws or a material provision of any material agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease or other undertaking (in each case known to such counsel) to which the Acquiring Fund is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound or, to the knowledge of such counsel, result in the acceleration of any obligation or the imposition of any penalty under any agreement, judgment, or decree to which the Acquiring Fund is a party or by which it is bound. |
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| (g) | Only insofar as they relate to the Acquiring Fund, the descriptions in the Prospectus/Information Statement of statutes, legal and governmental proceedings and material contracts, if any, are accurate and fairly present the information required to be shown. |
| (h) | Such counsel does not know of any legal or governmental proceedings, only insofar as they relate to the Acquiring Fund, existing on or before the effective date of the Prospectus/Information Statement or the Closing Date required to be described in the Prospectus/Information Statement or to be filed as exhibits to the Prospectus/Information Statement which are not described or filed as required. |
| (i) | To the knowledge of such counsel, no litigation or administrative proceeding or investigation of or before any court or governmental body is presently pending or threatened as to the Acquiring Fund or any of its properties or assets and the Acquiring Fund is not a party to or subject to the provisions of any order, decree or judgment of any court or governmental body, which materially and adversely affects its business, other than as previously disclosed in the Prospectus/Information Statement. |
Such opinion shall contain such assumptions and limitations as shall be in the opinion of Xxxxxxxx & Worcester LLP appropriate to render the opinions expressed therein.
ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE ACQUIRING FUND
The obligations of the Acquiring Fund to complete the transactions provided for herein shall be subject, at its election, to the performance by the Selling Fund of all the obligations to be performed by it hereunder on or before the Closing Date and, in addition thereto, the following conditions:
7.1 All representations and warranties of the Selling Fund contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date, and the Selling Fund shall have delivered to the Acquiring Fund on the Closing Date a certificate executed in its name by the Trust’s President or Vice President, in form and substance satisfactory to the Acquiring Fund and dated as of the Closing Date, to such effect and as to such other matters as the Acquiring Fund shall reasonably request.
7.2 The Selling Fund shall have delivered to the Acquiring Fund a statement of the Selling Fund’s assets and liabilities, together with a list of the Selling Fund’s portfolio securities showing the tax costs of such securities by lot and the holding periods of such securities, as of the Closing Date, certified by the Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer of the Trust.
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7.3 With respect to the Acquiring Fund, the Trust shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Xxxxxxxx & Worcester LLP, counsel to the Trust and the Selling Fund, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Acquiring Fund, covering the following points:
| (a) | The Selling Fund is a separate investment series of the Trust, a statutory trust duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has the trust power to own all of its properties and assets and, to the knowledge of such counsel, to carry on its business as presently conducted. |
| (b) | The Selling Fund is a separate investment series of a Delaware statutory trust registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, and, to such counsel’s knowledge, such registration with the Commission as an investment company under the 1940 Act is in full force and effect. |
| (c) | This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Selling Fund and, assuming due authorization, execution, and delivery of this Agreement by the Acquiring Fund, is a valid and binding obligation of the Selling Fund enforceable against the Selling Fund in accordance with its terms, subject as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general equity principles. |
| (d) | To the knowledge of such counsel, no consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental authority of the United States or the State of Delaware is required for consummation by the Selling Fund of the transactions contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act, and as may be required under state securities laws. |
| (e) | The execution and delivery of this Agreement did not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, result in a violation of the Trust’s Declaration of Trust or By-laws, or a material provision of any material agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease or other undertaking (in each case known to such counsel) to which the Selling Fund is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound or, to the knowledge of such counsel, result in the acceleration of any obligation or the imposition of any penalty, under any agreement, judgment, or decree to which the Selling Fund is a party or by which it is bound. |
| (f) | Only insofar as they relate to the Selling Fund, the descriptions in the Prospectus/Information Statement of statutes, legal and governmental proceedings and material contracts, if any, are accurate and fairly represent the information required to be shown. |
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| (g) | Such counsel does not know of any legal or governmental proceedings, only insofar as they relate to the Selling Fund existing on or before the effective date of the Prospectus/Information Statement or the Closing Date, required to be described in the Prospectus/Information Statement or to be filed as exhibits to the Prospectus/Information Statement which are not described or filed as required. |
| (h) | To the knowledge of such counsel, no litigation or administrative proceeding or investigation of or before any court or governmental body is presently pending or threatened as to the Selling Fund or any of its respective properties or assets and the Selling Fund is not a party to nor subject to the provisions of any order, decree or judgment of any court or governmental body, which materially and adversely affects its business other than as previously disclosed in the Prospectus/Information Statement. |
| (i) | Assuming that a consideration therefor of not less than the net asset value thereof has been paid, and assuming that such shares were issued in accordance with the terms of the Selling Fund’s registration statement, or any amendment thereto, in effect at the time of such issuance, all issued and outstanding shares of the Selling Fund are legally issued and fully paid and non-assessable. |
Such opinion shall contain such other assumptions and limitations as shall be in the opinion of Xxxxxxxx & Worcester LLP appropriate to render the opinions expressed therein.
ARTICLE VIII
FURTHER CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE ACQUIRING
FUND AND THE SELLING FUND
If any of the conditions set forth below do not exist on or before the Closing Date with respect to the Selling Fund or the Acquiring Fund, the other party to this Agreement shall, at its option, not be required to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement:
8.1 On the Closing Date, the Commission shall not have issued an unfavorable report under Section 25(b) of the 1940 Act, nor instituted any proceeding seeking to enjoin the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement under Section 25(c) of the 1940 Act and no action, suit or other proceeding shall be threatened or pending before any court or governmental agency in which it is sought to restrain or prohibit, or obtain damages or other relief in connection with, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein.
8.2 All required consents of other parties and all other consents, orders, and permits of federal, state and local regulatory authorities (including those of the Commission and of state Blue Sky securities authorities, including any necessary “no-action” positions of and exemptive orders from such federal and state authorities) to permit consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been obtained, except where failure to obtain any such consent,
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order, or permit would not involve a risk of a material adverse effect on the assets or properties of the Acquiring Fund or the Selling Fund, provided that either party hereto may for itself waive any of such conditions.
8.3 The Selling Fund shall have declared a dividend or dividends which, together with all previous such dividends shall have the effect of distributing to the Selling Fund Shareholders all of the Selling Fund’s investment company taxable income for all taxable periods ending on the Closing Date (computed without regard to any deduction for dividends paid) and all of the net capital gains realized in all taxable periods ending on the Closing Date (after reduction for any capital loss carryforward).
8.4 The Trust shall have received a favorable opinion of Xxxxxxxx & Worcester LLP addressed to the Acquiring Fund and the Selling Fund substantially to the effect that, for federal income tax purposes, and while the matter is not entirely free from doubt:
| (a) | The transfer of all of the Selling Fund assets in exchange solely for the Acquiring Fund Shares and the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of the liabilities of the Selling Fund followed by the distribution of the Acquiring Fund Shares to the Selling Fund Shareholders in dissolution and liquidation of the Selling Fund will constitute a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(C) of the Code, and the Acquiring Fund and the Selling Fund will each be a “party to a reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code. |
| (b) | No gain or loss will be recognized by the Acquiring Fund upon the receipt of the assets of the Selling Fund solely in exchange for the Acquiring Fund Shares and the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of the liabilities of the Selling Fund. |
| (c) | No gain or loss will be recognized by the Selling Fund upon the transfer of the Selling Fund assets to the Acquiring Fund in exchange for the Acquiring Fund Shares and the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of the liabilities of the Selling Fund or upon the distribution (whether actual or constructive) of the Acquiring Fund Shares to Selling Fund Shareholders in exchange for their shares of the Selling Fund. |
| (d) | No gain or loss will be recognized by the Selling Fund Shareholders upon the exchange of their Selling Fund shares for the Acquiring Fund Shares in liquidation of the Selling Fund. |
| (e) | The aggregate tax basis for the Acquiring Fund Shares received by each Selling Fund Shareholder pursuant to the Reorganization will be the same as the aggregate tax basis of the Selling Fund shares held by such Shareholder immediately prior to the Closing, and the holding period of the Acquiring Fund Shares received by each Selling Fund Shareholder will include the period during which the Selling Fund shares exchanged therefor were held by such Shareholder (provided the Selling Fund shares were held as capital assets on the date of the Closing). |
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| (f) | The tax basis of the Selling Fund assets acquired by the Acquiring Fund will be the same as the tax basis of such assets to the Selling Fund immediately prior to the Closing, and the holding period of the assets of the Selling Fund in the hands of the Acquiring Fund will include the period during which those assets were held by the Selling Fund. |
ARTICLE IX
EXPENSES
9.1 Except as otherwise provided for herein, all expenses of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement incurred by the Selling Fund and the Acquiring Fund, whether incurred before or after the date of this Agreement, will be borne by the Trust. Such expenses include, without limitation, (a) expenses incurred in connection with the entering into and the carrying out of the provisions of this Agreement; (b) expenses associated with the preparation and filing of the Prospectus/Information Statement under the 1933 Act covering the Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement; (c) registration or qualification fees and expenses of preparing and filing such forms as are necessary under applicable state securities laws to qualify the Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued in connection herewith in each state in which the Selling Fund Shareholders are resident as of the date of the mailing of the Prospectus/Information Statement to such shareholders; (d) postage; (e) printing; (f) accounting fees; (g) legal fees; and (h) solicitation costs of the transaction.
ARTICLE X
ENTIRE AGREEMENT; SURVIVAL OF WARRANTIES
10.1 The Acquiring Fund and the Selling Fund agree that neither party has made any representation, warranty or covenant not set forth herein and that this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties.
10.2 The representations, warranties, and covenants contained in this Agreement or in any document delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith shall not survive the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder.
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ARTICLE XI
TERMINATION
11.1 This Agreement may be terminated by the mutual agreement of the Acquiring Fund and the Selling Fund. In addition, either the Acquiring Fund or the Selling Fund may at its option terminate this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date because:
| (a) | of a breach by the other of any representation, warranty, or agreement contained herein to be performed at or prior to the Closing Date, if not cured within 30 days; or |
| (b) | a condition herein expressed to be precedent to the obligations of the terminating party has not been met and it reasonably appears that it will not or cannot be met. |
11.2 In the event of any such termination, in the absence of willful default, there shall be no liability for damages on the part of the Acquiring Fund, the Selling Fund, the Trust, or its Trustees or officers, to the other party, but each shall bear the expenses incurred by it incidental to the preparation and carrying out of this Agreement as provided in paragraph 9.1.
ARTICLE XII
AMENDMENTS
12.1 This Agreement may be amended, modified, or supplemented in such manner as may be mutually agreed upon in writing by the authorized officers of the Trust.
ARTICLE XIII
HEADINGS; COUNTERPARTS; GOVERNING LAW; ASSIGNMENT;
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
13.1 The Article and paragraph headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
13.2 This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original.
13.3 This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflicts of laws provisions thereof.
13.4 This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, but no assignment or transfer hereof or of any rights or obligations hereunder shall be made by any party without the written consent of the other party. Nothing herein expressed or implied is intended or shall be construed to confer upon or give any person, firm, or corporation, other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement.
13.5 With respect to the Trust, the name used herein refers respectively to the trust created and, as the case may be, the Trustees, as trustees but not individually or personally, acting from time to time under organizational documents filed in Delaware, which are hereby referred to and are also on file at the principal offices of the Trust. The obligations of the Trust entered into in the name or on behalf thereof by any of the Trustees, representatives or agents of
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the Trust, are made not individually, but in such capacities, and are not binding upon any of the Trustees, shareholders or representatives of the Trust personally, but bind only the trust property, and all persons dealing with the Selling Fund and the Acquiring Fund must look solely to the trust property belonging to the Selling Fund and the Acquiring Fund for the enforcement of any claims against the Selling Fund and the Acquiring Fund, respectively.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Agreement, all as of the date first written above.
| THE HUNTINGTON FUNDS ON BEHALF OF HUNTINGTON INCOME EQUITY FUND | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |
| Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | ||
| Title: President | ||
| THE HUNTINGTON FUNDS ON BEHALF OF HUNTINGTON DIVIDEND CAPTURE FUND | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxx | |
| Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxx | ||
| Title: Chief Compliance Officer | ||
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